Key Insights:
- Chris Larsen, the Ripple co-founder, has donated at least $22.5 million to federal candidates and super PACs during the current election cycle.
- Larsen gave $4 million to Democrat Sherrod Brown while criticizing Fairshake’s campaign against him, despite Ripple contributing to the crypto super PAC.
- The Ripple co-founder says sustained political spending across election cycles is essential to influencing crypto policy.
Chris Larsen, co-founder of Ripple, has spent $22.5 million on federal candidates and Super PACs as of October 9, 2026, according to Bloomberg.
Larsen recently made a $4 million contribution to Democratic Senatorial candidate Sherrod Brown. This puts Larsen at odds with Fairshake PAC, a major crypto-focused political group backed by Ripple, that has been actively opposing Brown.
This clash highlights a tricky challenge for the crypto world: how to build bipartisan political support while spending against lawmakers seen as roadblocks.
Ripple Political Moves Put Strategy to the Test
Larsen’s backing of Brown is striking because Fairshake has pledged nearly $30 million to prevent Brown’s Senate comeback.
Brown lost his seat in 2024 to Republican Bernie Moreno. He now seeks to unseat Republican Senator Jon Husted in the November 2026 midterms. Cryptocurrency-linked groups, including Fairshake, also heavily targeted Brown in the previous election cycle.
Larsen didn’t hold back in criticizing Fairshake’s stance, calling their opposition to Brown a mistake. He pointed to ongoing direct conversations with Brown, insisting the senator isn’t an enemy to the crypto industry. Larsen’s $4 million donation takes that point from words to action.
The split is especially notable because Ripple remains one of Fairshake’s biggest funders. According to Bloomberg, Ripple has donated $93 million to Fairshake, including $48 million during this election cycle, dwarfing Larsen’s personal contribution to Brown.
So, while Ripple bankrolls the PAC opposing Brown, Larsen is putting his own money behind the candidate.
Crypto’s Regulatory Battles Fuel Political Spending
This internal crypto conflict emerges as companies rethink their Washington strategies. Reuters reported on October 7 that crypto interests have spent over $300 million supporting candidates from both major parties in recent election cycles.
The goal is clear: push for legislation that clarifies federal rules for digital assets. But the bipartisan approach has hit roadblocks. Senate Democrats and some Republicans teamed up to block the CLARITY Act, a proposed framework for regulating digital markets.
Now, crypto donors are left wondering whether to invest in both parties’ legislators or those who have advocated for its passage.
Fairshake defends its stance as focused on issues rather than partisan politics. Its 2026 spending supports candidates on both sides of the aisle, even as its fight against Brown remains a high-profile Senate campaign.
The PAC’s approach is to back lawmakers pushing crypto-friendly policies while opposing those viewed as obstacles, regardless of party.
For Ripple, this situation goes beyond a single Senate race. Keeping funds flowing to Fairshake preserves a major channel of political influence for the industry. However, Larsen’s contrasting donations reveal that company leaders don’t always agree on how that money should be used.
Ripple Co-Founder’s Political Giving isn’t Limited to 2026
Larsen’s involvement in politics stretches back well before the current controversy. In October 2024, The Coin Republic reported that he had pledged $10 million in XRP to Future Forward, a super PAC supporting Kamala Harris.
The Coin Republic also reported earlier contributions to the group, a combined $10 million in cash and an additional $1 million in XRP.
These donations highlighted Larsen’s strong support for Democratic causes, even as crypto companies and leaders donated to candidates from both parties.
Another report from The Coin Republic on July 3, 2026, revealed Larsen’s investment in American Perpetuals Exchange Corp., a crypto derivatives startup founded by Theodore Gillibrand, son of Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
This investment came to light during Senate debates on ethics rules related to the CLARITY Act.
Together, these incidents shed light on Larsen’s overall political strategy. His contributions span candidates, super PACs, and investments tied to the digital asset space, while Ripple has maintained a strong financial connection to Fairshake.
This suggests that the recent Ripple news is not limited to a single donation. It is also the interplay between personal beliefs and corporate politics, as well as the campaign finance practices of different businesses in the cryptocurrency sphere.
Larsen argues that effective political influence requires continuous investment across multiple election cycles.
Crypto regulation remains a key political issue. Fairshake continues to spend on competitive races, but the industry faces a challenge: can it maintain bipartisan support while funding campaigns against individual lawmakers?
